Let the Right One In (Part 1)

He walked back into the mansion exhausted, physically and emotionally. Seeing Helena break that man's neck had been shocking but also cathartic. Knowing that he wasn't the only one who had been broken and was fighting their way back to the surface. But even though he sympathized with Helena, he knew that her quest and his were very different. After weeks of Diggle's speeches he was beginning to see that what he was doing had to be bigger than vengeance. It had to extend beyond the pages of his father's book or it would hurt the people he cared about most. He couldn't let his love for his family and his city be transmuted into hatred for their foes.

He looked up as Thea walked into the foyer. "Hey Speedy," he said tentatively. He didn't know if she was still mad at him and technically he didn't have the right to argue with her logic. He'd been keeping too many secrets and he'd been dumb to think Thea wouldn't be the first to notice. Even when they were younger. He'd run circles around his parents with his antics but Thea always knew when he was lying. He looked at her with what he hoped was a contrite expression. "How's mom?"

"Walter's with her now so you don't have to worry about missing your shift," Thea retorted. He cringed and her expression softened. "Look I didn't mean it like that. It's just -" she sighed and trailed off.

"I know I haven't been there for mom," Oliver said placing his hands on her shoulders. "I really appreciate you picking up the slack." He let his hands run down the sides of her arms. "I'm going to hug you now. Can I hug you?"

He pulled her close and Thea looked up at him. "You're such a dork, Ollie," she said with a smile. As she gazed up at him, her expression turned serious. "I know before I said that you need to let someone in, Ollie, but I hope when you decide to tell someone your secrets, it's the right person." Thea placed a soft kiss on his stubbly cheek and padded away softly.